The conclusions of this field effect, the [Keeper of Balance], were completed ahead of time. The abilities of those who entered the labyrinth were equally distributed.

All members of the team agreed with Rothmiller's hypothesis, taking into account various clues from me, so no extra explanation was needed.

"Perhaps other researchers have entered this labyrinth.

"Other researchers?" But there are no other explorers in the Sky Tower," Hikurod muttered, as if he didn't understand.

"Murad, you should know that our situation is abnormal now.

The Sky Tower was an independent space. Unless several teams entered there at the same time, no matter how much you wandered, you wouldn't meet another team.

However, it was a space unknown to the outside world.

"Anything can happen here.

The unknown meant that all possibilities were open.

"I see. But perhaps our assumptions are wrong. Maybe in this particular place, some other rules apply...

Discarding another possibility of Hikuroda, I said firmly:

"That seems like too big a leap.

It was not a space unknown to me. It would be wiser to quickly figure everything out and move on without wasting time.

"I think Rothmiller's guess is correct. Dvalki, what do you think?

— ... I also think that this is more plausible.

"So you agree. Misha, you?

"Uh... I'll just keep silent.

Misha refrained. However, since there were already three votes for the majority, I did not force her to choose.

"Okay, the decision has been made. For now, let's assume that Rothmiller's words are true. If you have any objections, speak now.

— ... There are none.

After the dwarf nodded sullenly, I quickly settled the situation.

More explorers entered the labyrinth, and they were stronger than us. It seemed to me that my stats had doubled, so I was sure that these were researchers active on the 6th floor or higher—not from the clan, but from the team. If this is so, then what should we do now? The team members gave their opinions on the matter, and I took the opportunity to fulfill the condition to summon an intermediate boss.

[The devil in the labyrinth felt the blood].

Okay, it just takes a little more time for it to work.

"Hmph, does it really matter?" I think it would be better to find a way out by joining forces...

"We don't know what kind of researchers they are. Why don't we just stay here? There is no guarantee that we will be trapped when the maze closes.

"Haha!" My friend, what are you so worried about? Even if they are stronger than us, isn't this a special situation? Even if we run into each other, they won't be able to do anything to us easily, so let's just do business as usual.

"Hmph, but just in case, it's best to avoid them as much as possible and find a way out."

I smiled bitterly. I was wondering if they would say anything worthwhile, so I listened carefully as I waited. As expected, their hive intelligence didn't help much. Rothmiller was at least better, but while he may have had a strong sense of preparing for "ifs," he didn't keep the worst-case scenario in mind.

"Bjorn, what do you think?"

All eyes were focused on me. I finally collected my thoughts and said:

— I don't think this can be a coincidence.

"Not a coincidence?"

"Researchers with such strength on the 4th floor at such a time?" Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that they wandered here for some purpose?

"Do you mean that their target could be this area?"

— Yes. And if so, they should have noticed our presence by now.

Maybe they will see the footprints we have left behind and come for us? No, even if they don't, maybe there's a way to track us.

Dvalki began to refute my words.

"Impossible, how can it be?" How could they have known about this place in advance?

The dwarf laughed too.

"Haha, you sound like they're already looters.

Rothmiller asked another question seriously.

"So what do you think we should do?"

We didn't know anything about them, so all possibilities were open. This variable could have been luck, or it could have led us to our demise. So even if I seemed strange to my colleagues, I had to assume the worst.

"We have to get out of here," I replied.

*Tudum!*

Not ignoring the anxious feelings in my heart was the secret of my survival.

***

[You killed Baphomet. Experience +5].

[Bonus for killing a high-class mutant. Experience +1]

***

We ran through the labyrinth, not wandering, but definitely heading towards the goal.

"This way!"

Rothmiller, who was walking closely behind me, was clutching a map in his hand. This was not the map he had been working until now, but a map that detailed the path through the entire labyrinth. Of course, it indicated the location of the boss's room. This was the loot obtained by defeating Baphomet, an intermediate boss.

I didn't expect to be able to defeat him so easily.

Baphomet came out just as I finished speaking. Usually, fighting him would require me to attack his weak points, but it took less than a minute. You could just dodge and deal damage. I would say it was a good thing, given the circumstances.

How strong are they usually?

We had unidentified intruders. I have long since discarded the idea that it could be one person. No matter how strong a person is, there is a limit to everything.

*Running!*

I cleared my thoughts and sped up. Since everyone seemed to be following me, I thought everything would be fine. In fact, when I looked back, even Hikurod, who lacked stamina, was doing a good job carrying Dvalki on his back. Stopping my worries, I slapped Vaikundus on the head as he jumped forward.

"Mehhh!"

Of course, he staggered a lot, but he didn't die from one blow. However, I walked past the staggering monster without slowing down. Misha decided to deal with the garbage monster.

*Colic!*

The light dissipated at the same time as the sound of flesh being cut. However, there was no sound of the mana stone falling. It seems that Misha caught him in the air again.

"To the left!"

I followed Rothmiller's instructions and changed direction. Then I noticed four Vaikundus in the distance. To be honest, Misha, Rothmiller and I could get rid of them ourselves now, but it would be better to save at least a second of time.

"Dvalki!"

At my scream, Dvalki jumps down from the dwarf's back and casts a spell.

*Shhhhh!*

[Ice Storm]: A 7th tier offensive magic that deals AoE damage instead of a single target. Initially, the spell was used for monsters of the 8th or 9th rank or for a combination with Misha.

"Me... d?

A blizzard swept through the passage like hail, freezing the four Vaikundus in place.

Tier 6 monsters were granted the status of not only [Frostbite], but also [Freeze] with just one spell. However, this state should have passed in a few seconds.

*Bam!*

I quickly crushed them with my mace, and we continued to move. If we decided we needed a break, we would lie down in the aisle to catch our breath. So time passed, and it was time for the third break.

"Huff, Huff... Bjorn, aren't we in too much of a hurry? I don't think we need to be in such a hurry.

Hikurod inhaled and exhaled, carefully venting the discontent he was holding back. This was quite expected.

My first request was the following:

"I have a sinister feeling. So please. Trust me this time."

«… Well, you have good instincts, anyway."

"I-I don't mind. And, Bjorn, don't think I've repaid my debt with this. I intend to return it properly later."

Time passed, and they began to ask questions.

"I think that's enough, too," Dvalki said now. "I can't believe they knew about this place... Isn't it more likely that they got here by accident, just like we are? Even if this is true, could they have been looters? Isn't the belief that they will find us on purpose to harm us rather a delusion?

"If you're worried about the footprints we've left, we can start moving slowly. Even marauders can't find us in a place like this.

"To be honest, I don't quite understand why you're so sure there's a way out there." First of all, what was the guarantee that the room, which may or may not be the boss's room, has a way to escape?

"Uh, I have no complaints. Do you understand? I'm serious. Hmm?

These were all reasonable questions because they didn't have the same experience as me. The hidden part wasn't that special. Just look at Jencia, whom we met in the Glacier Cave not long ago. She opened the Chasm with a hidden element. In addition, there was an exchange of information every month in Ghostbusters, and knowledge about hidden elements was spread.

"Bjorn, you don't look like yourself today. Even if everything you say is true, why not fight back? Hikurod spoke convincingly, but that was the biggest problem.

Is he pinning his hopes on the [Keeper of Balance]?

It didn't change anything anyway. A situation in which we would be crushed the was now just a situation in which we would just be crushed. That's all. Even if our stats were the same as the enemy's, there was a difference in skill ranks and the number of essences. With equipment, the difference will be even greater.

If we fight, we will definitely lose.

This was the source of my anxiety.

*Blow!*

The wolf does not feel excitement in front of the hare. But the hare, as soon as he sees the wolf, immediately rushes away.

"There's no time for that. If you're tired of resting, let's go.

***

A man standing in the middle of the stone chamber muttered:

The man removed the hood that covered his face and walked to the wall, then carefully ran his fingers along the stone. "We're here at last.

The corners of his lips curled, and the skin covered in burns was distorted.

Anyone could see that this man was genuinely happy.

"Lord, why did you give wings to such a wicked man?!"

As if lamenting this, the old man in the black robe of a priest closed his eyes.

"Is it really your will?"

Asking a pointless question was the only thing he could do.

"Old man, do I need to tear out your tongue?"

"I'm not afraid. Carnal pain-...

"Oh, and what about your grandson's tongue?"

—…

When the old man closed his mouth, the burned man laughed and turned his gaze to the floor. His gaze fell on the middle-aged researcher, who was sprawled in a crouched pose like a shrimp. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his parted lips twitched and let out a moan full of pain.

"It's just a hand, don't exaggerate.

The man laughed as he looked at the researcher's severed shoulder. Who would have thought that there was a way to get inside this place that he had been looking for for a whole year?

"To show us the way just because he was offered the hand of a rank 5 researcher, this evil god is a funny guy.

"Isn't he—" your friend?

"Comrade?" I just took it with me because it's useful. Hey, get up. We're late, we don't have time.

When the burned man placed his foot on the researcher's waist and shook it, deep wrinkles formed between the old man's eyebrows.

"Stop it. He sacrificed a part of his body to an evil god. The pain will be beyond imagination-...

"That's enough, old man.

The old man shuddered at the cold voice of the burned man. Unable to hide his anger, the old man's clenched fists trembled, but that was all. He was disgusted with his own cowardice, as he had no choice but to watch the atrocities. However, there were things that the old man had to protect. Perhaps this scout was the same.

"I'm fine... priest.

The scout struggled to his feet, clutching the empty area of his shoulder.

The other man nodded in satisfaction. However, realizing something belatedly, he frowned and clenched and unclenched his hand several times.

*Compression*.

He knew about the [Keeper of Balance]. However, even with that, the changes that had just occurred in his body didn't make sense.

"Old man, has anything changed?" For example, your holy power?

— ... It has decreased slightly.

— Has it decreased? Has it increased? You sure?

"I'm sure.

The man turned his head to look at the scout.

"And you?"

"Including C-Soul Force, in general, the stats of The-physique have decreased..."

- I see.

The man smiled like a fish and stared down the aisle.

The old man was a former High Priest, but even a rank 5 scout had lost some of his abilities?

"It looks like some rats got in here first.

His eyes, illuminated by the flickering torch, emitted a cold light.